A Philadelphia Phillies fan was convicted Thurs. in federal court on 79 counts related to hijacking e-mail addresses of local sportswriters. Allan Carlson, 41, was accused of using the e-mail addresses of Philadelphia area writers to spread his complaints about the team’s management. He was convicted of 79 counts of fraud, identity theft, and computer hacking-related offenses. U.S. Dist. Judge Berle Schiller asked the jury to decide the financial harm Carlson’s scam had caused the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. Testifying in his defense, Carlson said he didn’t believe what he did was a crime or that it would hurt the newspapers.
N.Y. Police Dept. Comr. Raymond Kelly announced the arrest of 13 members of an Internet-savvy motorcycle theft ring Thurs. after coordinating with police in O. and Cal. Kelly said the ring used the Web to auction off parts they had stolen from N.Y.C. residents. The investigation into the ring began when a Queens resident reported a stolen motorcycle and then found parts from his bike online, including a gas tank with a distinctive scratch.
EMarketer issued its forecast Thurs. of the top trends in emerging technologies in 2005, saying marketers offer unprecedented levels of personalization through ventures such as VoIP and targeted advertising. The company does its own analysis and projections based on data compiled from a broad range of primary research firms. “The shifts we are seeing in e-business are toward content, advertising and technologies that are increasingly targeted to specific individuals or groups,” said eMarketer CEO Geoff Ramsey.
The European Commission (EC) will hold a Jan. 31 public hearing on the draft Hague Conference treaty aimed at standardizing choice of court agreements in online and offline cross-border civil disputes. The Brussels hearing will follow a consultation paper released last fall seeking input on the draft (WID Sept 14 p5), which has been narrowed from earlier versions to cover only choice of forum agreements in business-to-business cases. The hearing will focus primarily on key questions raised by the consultation paper, the EC said, but it will also discuss other relevant issues related to the convention. The consultation period ended Nov. 15, but the Commission won’t post the responses because they're to be used by the EC and European Union member states in formulating Europe’s position for the June 14-30 diplomatic conference, the EC official responsible for the Hague treaty file told us.
Commerce Secy. nominee Carlos Gutierrez was asked about broadband in the first question of his nomination hearing Wed. before the Senate Commerce Committee. New committee member Sen. Pryor (D-Ark.) asked Gutierrez what his plan was for deployment of broadband to rural areas. Gutierrez said he “hoped to have more knowledge” of the issue and would elaborate in the future. However, he said President Bush’s goal of affordable access to broadband for all America by 2007 was a “very powerful goal” that he “totally endorses and supports.” Gutierrez, the CEO of cereal manufacturer Kellogg Co., is not considered a controversial nominee and is expected to be approved.
The U.K. Office of Fair Trading (OFT) stopped a Wales- based businessman from using misleading statements to pressure other businesses into purchasing domain names, the agency said Wed. Adam Ripley, who ran several domain name registration companies, told businesses a 3rd party was trying to register a domain similar to theirs, OFT said. Ripley then offered the names to the businesses but gave them only a few minutes to decide. He also offered co.uk registrations for 10 years, when in fact only 2-year periods are available. When Ripley refused to halt his sales practices, OFT obtained a temporary injunction in High Court. However, the agency said, Ripley continues to contest the charges, meaning a full trial could take place.
The U.K. Home Office said Wed. it saved almost a quarter of a million pounds ($470,000) on new information technology hardware and software for its National Probation Directorate by using an electronic reverse auction (eAuction) for procurement. EAuctions use secure Internet-based technology that lets pre- qualified suppliers compete in real time by bidding lower as the auction progresses, the Home Office said. The process allowed suppliers to enter a total of 74 bids, ensuring the best prices for the govt., it said.
Vonage Canada said it cut the monthly price of its residential premium unlimited plan to $32.66 from $37.56. The plan offers unlimited calling anywhere in N. America, an extensive range of phone features and low international calling rates.
Skype said it launched v1.1 for Windows with a new group chat messaging that allows groups of up to 50 people to communicate. Additional features offered by Skype v1.1 include improved contact list management and presentation.